Kurdistan Region Responds to Iraqi Prime Minister’s Accusations
In a press conference held on 20 November 2008, the Iraqi Prime Minister accused the Kurdistan Region of committing unconstitutional acts. The Kurdistan Region has made public a detailed response today. The following is an abridgement of this response.
Continue Reading »
Mumbai Attacks Suggest Disturbing Alliances
The horrific attacks in Mumbai have underlined how difficult it is for developing states to be safe from terrorism. Since 2005, this is the fourth major attack in India, following bomb blasts and machine gun attacks in Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai.
Unlike previous attacks in India, this time the terrorists came via sea, firing indiscriminately rather than using bombs and specifically targeting numerous centers. The variation in method as well as the professionalism imply a collaboration between four possible groups: Al Qaeda or a similar outfit; Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence, which has long been suspected of training and equipping terrorist initiatives against India; homegrown Indian groups like the Deccan Mujahedeen, which has actually claimed responsibility for the current attack; and members of the Mumbai underworld.
Continue Reading »
HIV As Sole Cause Of AIDS Challanged
A few adventurous researchers have suggested that there is more to AIDS than simply “a virus.” Some research, most of it totally ignored, points to bacteria (also mycoplasma-like bacteria) as an important and necessary “co-factor” for the development of HIV infection into “full- blown AIDS.” In this latter category, oddly enough, falls some of the research of the initial discoverer of HIV itself, Luc Montagnier.
According to one website, 2,543 scientists and educators have expressed doubts that “HIV” causes AIDS. Nevertheless, the mantra that “HIV is the sole cause of AIDS” is so well-known and accepted universally that any suggestion to the contrary is usually met with disdain by the AIDS establishment. One notable example of this disdain was provided by noted AIDS retroviral researcher David Ho, M.D., TIME magazine’s Man of the Year in 1996, when he famously declared to detractors: “It’s the virus, stupid!”
Continue Reading »
Support for Gay Marriage in Iowa
As the Iowa Supreme Court prepares to hear a case that could clear the way for gay marriage in Iowa, a poll shows nearly sixty percent of voters in the state favor some type of legal recognition of same-sex relationships in Iowa.
In the random, statewide poll of 586 voters, University of Iowa political scientists found that 28 percent of Iowans support same-sex marriage. Another 30 percent support civil unions, not gay marriage. About one in three oppose both.
Continue Reading »
War Crimes TV launches Video Sharing Website
War Crimes TV is releasing a number of compelling videos highlighting the continuing atrocities across the world and the need to increase War Crimes and Genocide awareness.
A statement from War Crimes TV states, “Genocide is the darkest side of human nature and can not be prevented unless the average man around the world, rich or poor, interacts and increases trust between nations and peoples. Politics leads to War, War leads to War Crimes and War Crimes leads to Mass Rape and ultimately to Genocide.”
Continue Reading »
Health Care Reform: No Revolution in Sight
A new study involving health care systems in 21 countries — and the prospects for change in response to such common pressures as rising costs and aging populations — casts doubt on the possibility of major overhauls of any of these systems because of the history and traditions that created them.
The findings, published on Friday in the online issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, comes as the election of President-elect Barack Obama and his cabinet choices concerning health have increased speculation of substantial changes ahead for the unwieldy U.S. health care system.
Continue Reading »
Expert Says Economy Will Worsen If Layoffs Used to Curb Company Losses
Widespread layoffs that stem corporate financial losses but leave workers out in the cold would deepen the looming recession that sparked them, a University of Illinois labor expert warns.
Displaced workers with no paychecks or prospects could add a potentially catastrophic drag to a U.S. economy already facing its worst downturn in decades, says Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld, the dean of the School of Labor and Employment Relations.
Continue Reading »
Majority Say Obama Will Improve Economy
A majority of those surveyed say President-elect Barack Obama will be able to improve the U.S. economy, which has been slammed by the real estate crisis, according to a new opinion poll by Housing Predictor.
Continue Reading »
Gay Social Network Encourages Promotion and Support of Gay Friendly Companies and Organizations
Genia Stevens, editor of the lesbian and gay blog SistersTalk, announces the launch of GayWallet.com — a social network designed to connect the LGBTQ community with companies and organizations that promote full equality for all Americans. The network is an alliance of gays and straights who are committed to supporting companies, organizations, and individuals who support the LGBTQ community. GayWallet.com allows users to create groups, upload videos, post pictures, write blog postings, participate in various forum discussions and network with like-minded individuals.
Continue Reading »
Somali Pirates Successful Business Model
by Jana Shakarian
The piracy off the Somali coast is growing in a number of respects – economically, politically and in terms of the sophistication of the operation. The number of acts perpetrated this year is at least 60 and the radius of activity is widening. The recent seizure of a Saudi oil tanker took place 450 miles off Somalia’s coast. Also, the pirates’ prey keep getting bigger – most recently the oil tanker and a Ukrainian weapons freighter. We can assume the ransom they receive is getting reinvested in the enterprise.
By monitoring the hijacked vessel’s movement it can be assumed that the majority of perpetrators are based in North-East Somalia - hitherto a relatively stable part of the country called Somaliland. Nevertheless, some hijacked ships seem to have anchored in Southern ports - a part of Somalia that is currently controlled by Al-Shabaab (”The Youth”). This Islamic militant group started out as the military wing of another organization called the Islamic Courts Union. But internal frictions have led the two groups to split.
Continue Reading »
